How to create a google account without a phone number?

filastinhurra

need one to sign in to play store. it is super hard these days.

Franco

If no mistake I managed to do it by
1) not using a VPN -> i used direct wifi connection in a hotel
2) configuring 2fa

No phone number was requested

Onlyfun

Franco
does it matter if a laptop or phone is used for this?

sappy_junior728

Franco

How does 2FA work without a phone number?

Makenrou

Franco
And you did it with vanadium? Always request for a phone number when i try, no vpn, in an airport.

Murcielago

sappy_junior728

By immediately setting up another 2FA method like TOTP or Passkey.

Xplet1veDeleted

Murcielago Can you do this in real time? set up the totp and have google send the code there immediately upon set up, and never have to give a phone number?

Vincent96

It forced me to use a phone number when I signed up. I used a SMS rental service for the verification for less than a dollar. Then I deleted the number from the account so it's not linked to a phone number.

Xplet1veDeleted

Vincent96 Any chance you could tell me anything about doing that? What service did you use? I was under the impression a voip thing wouldn't work with google, did you find one that offers a legit number that can fool them?

pminded

Additional Q:
Do remember correctly that phone data like phone number, IMEI etc can't be read be applications, therefore Google Play can't grab them?
At least in the more recent versions of Android (or just AOSP)?
And therefore this wouldn't be a specific GOS feature?

Probably9857

pminded IMEI etc can't be read be applications

True for regular applications, but...

pminded therefore Google Play can't grab them?

On stock Android, Google Play is not just a regular application. It has many invasive privileges that aren't available to other apps. One of those privileges is the ability to read device identifiers.

pminded And therefore this wouldn't be a specific GOS feature?

Sandboxing Google Play (which prevents it from reading device identifiers, among many other things) is arguably one of the most important features of GrapheneOS.

schweizer

You need to do it from the play app. For privacy use a public access point. But they have a rate limit. If you try from the same access point to create another account you get blocked.

littlerack

Xplet1veDeleted What service did you us

If you don't get an answer, I would check for latest feedback about smspool, though if possible, it's preferred not to use phone number at all.

Vincent96

Xplet1veDeleted I'm not sure if I'm allowed to name the specific service here. I paid in Monero which several of them offer.

littlerack

Xplet1veDeleted Can you do this in real time? set up the totp and have google send the code there immediately upon set up

Typically, application-based 2fa configuration (like OTP with KeePassDX app) doesn't send anything, Google account setup page will just generate for you a QR (or you can get text string behind the qr if you can't scan the code like if you're using only one device to set it up). You add it to your 2fa app, it shows you 6-digit code, you feed it back into Google account setup page and you're done.